Toys "R" Us will be taking back used baby products starting Jan. 23 in exchange for discounts on new items, an annual event that has helped remove more than a million potentially unsafe items from the marketplace.

Expense control and a more rational promotional environment helped Toys “R” Us reduce the size of its third quarter operating loss but the company had little to say about its outlook for Christmas sales and profits.

A strong start to holiday season at Toys “R” hinges on a carefully curated offering of merchandise offered online and in a catalog known as The Great Big Christmas Book being distributed to households this week.

Leading accessories retailer Claire’s plans to open 100 of its distinctive branded shops with thousands of products within Toys “R” Us stores worldwide by year end and alluded to the possibility of more locations to come.

In anticipation of the theatrical release of “The LEGO Movie” Friday, Feb. 7, Toys “R” Us is unveiling a dedicated feature shop in stores nationwide Thursday, Jan. 30, as well as online at Toysrus.com/LEGO.

Toys “R” Us is debuting the Toys"R"Us Toy Channel, the company's revamped and updated YouTube channel. The channel launches with eight playlists, segregating content by topic to showcase in-demand playthings and new products, interviews with toy industry experts and current commercials from the beloved brand and top toy manufacturers.

Toys “R” Us is preparing for the holiday season with plans to hire 45,000 employees to staff its stores and distribution centers nationwide. This number is basically flat from last year’s holiday staffing totals.

Key Mattel brands drove Mattel sales for the first quarter of 2013. Mattel's net sales for the quarter were $996 million, up 7% compared to $928 million last year, and net income increased dramatically to $38.5 million, or $0.11 per share, compared to last year's first quarter net income of $7.8 million, or $0.02 per share.

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